Quality Management System and Practices

Quality is a perceptual, conditional and somewhat subjective attribute of a product or service. Its meaning in business has developed over time. It has been understood differently and interpreted differently by different people. A business will benefit most through focusing on the key processes that provide their customers with products and services. Producers may measure the conformance quality, or degree to which the product or service was made according to the required specification. Customers on the other hand, may focus on the quality specification of a product or service, or compared it with those that are available in the marketplace. In a modern global marketplace, quality is a key competency which companies derive competitive advantage. Achieving quality is fundamental to competition in business in propelling business into new heights. Many quality management philosophies, methodologies, concepts and practices were created by quality gurus to manage quality of product and service in an organization. These practices have evolved over time to create sustainable sources of competitive advantage. New challenges faced by managers are addressed to improve organization’s performance and future competition. In the total quality management form, it is a structured management system adopted at every management levels that focused on ongoing effort to provide product or service. Its integration with the business plan of the organization can exact positive influence on customer satisfaction and organizational performance. This chapter dealt with what is quality and TQM, cost of quality, linking quality management system to organizational performance, its impact on organizations and approaches of implementing TQM and the quality journey

Dynamic weighted idle time heuristic for flowshop scheduling

The constructive heuristic of Nawaz, Enscore and Ham (NEH) has been introduced in 1983 to solve flowshop scheduling. Many researchers have continued to improve the NEH by adding new steps and procedures to the existing algorithm. Thus, this study has developed a new heuristic known as Dynamic Weighted Idle Time (DWIT) method by adding dynamic weight factors for solving the partial solution with purpose to obtain optimal makespan and improve the NEH heuristic. The objective of this study are to develop a DWIT heuristic to solve flowshop scheduling problem and to assess the performance of the new DWIT heuristic against the current best scheduling heuristic, ie the NEH. This research developed a computer programming in Microsoft Excel to measure the flowshop scheduling performance for every change of weight factors. The performance measure is done by using n jobs (n=6,10 and 20) and 4 machines. The weight factors were applied with numerical method within the range of zero to one. Different weight factors and machines idle time were used at different problem sizes. For 6 jobs and 4 machines, only idle time before and in between two jobs were used while for 10 jobs and 20 jobs the consideration of idle time was idle time before, in between two jobs and after completion of the last job. In 6 jobs problem, the result was compared between DWIT against Optimum and NEH against Optimum. While in 10 jobs and 20 jobs problem the result was compared between DWIT against the NEH. Overall result shows that the result on 6 and 10 jobs problem the DWIT heuristic obtained better results than NEH heuristic. However, in 20 jobs problem, the result shows that the NEH was better than DWIT. The result of this study can be used for further research in modifying the weight factors and idle time selections in order to improve the NEH heuristic

Quality management system and practices

Quality is a perceptual, conditional and somewhat subjective attribute of a product or service. Its meaning in business has developed over time. It has been understood differently and interpreted differently by different people. A business will benefit most through focusing on the key processes that provide their customers with products and services. Producers may measure the conformance quality, or degree to which the product or service was made according to the required specification. Customers on the other hand, may focus on the quality specification of a product or service, or compared it with those that are available in the marketplace. In a modern global marketplace, quality is a key competency which companies derive competitive advantage. Achieving quality is fundamental to competition in business in propelling business into new heights. Many quality management philosophies, methodologies, concepts and practices were created by quality gurus to manage quality of product and service in an organization. These practices have evolved over time to create sustainable sources of competitive advantage. New challenges faced by managers are addressed to improve organization’s performance and future competition. In the total quality management form, it is a structured management system adopted at every management levels that focused on ongoing effort to provide product or service. Its integration with the business plan of the organization can exact positive influence on customer satisfaction and organizational performance. This chapter dealt with what is quality and TQM, cost of quality, linking quality management system to organizational performance, its impact on organizations and approaches of implementing TQM and the quality journey

Analysis of the higher education funding systems

This paper presents general aspects of funding system at higher education sector. Funding is not simply a mechanism to allocate funds to finance HEIs but an instrument for the government or public authorities to ensure the HEIs administration have the same goals with them, other than that the funding adopted by the government to influence the behaviours of agents. n response to the development of society and economy, the pattern of distribution of public funds in the education sector particularly HE experience a change in the context of increasing competition for public funds because of pressure from the community to enhance quality of educatio

The strategic role of GCC Islamic banks in Malaysia: a knowledge transfer perspective

The recent trend in the field of strategic management has been to emphasize the role of knowledge management as a basis of the competitive advantage of organizations. Historically, the searches for MNCs performance have been oriented around that knowledge is power. In organizations, this expression has become even more relevant than other social settings. Knowledge is a major factor that differentiates successful organizations from the unsuccessful ones. This study aims to investigate the strategic role in knowledge transfer, as well as to review the effect of strategic role as the constituent factor of knowledge transfer which contributes to the success of Islamic banking and financial knowledge performance in GCC Islamic banks subsidiaries in Malaysia. The data were collected through sending out questionnaires to 5 leaders of Upper Managers in GCC Islamic banks in Malaysia, administered 2-items of strategic roles namely: Contributor and Implementer. The respondents’ answers were subjected to SPSS. After that, semi-structured interviews were conducted with respondents. The results indicated that there is positive and significant influence of strategic leadership on knowledge transfer process. GCC Islamic banks subsidiaries in Malaysia are standing at the great extent level of strategic role from knowledge transfer perspective. In addition, the two factors named contributor and implementer lead to achieve the strategic role between headquarter and its subsidiary. The conclusion of this research paper recommended the advanced empirical research studies in future to develop a conceptual unifying model of Islamic banking and financial knowledge transfer within Islamic banks

Entrepreneurial motivation and entrepreneurship career intention : case at a Malaysian Public University

Entrepreneurship intention for graduate student like many other job and work career options depends on other considerations. Literature reviews revealed that more research works are needed in examining the determinants of entrepreneurship intentions of students. This study is to determine the relationship between student’s entrepreneurial motivation and entrepreneurship intention. A total of 450 self-administered questionnaires were distributed to the students of the various faculties, races and student seniority at a Public University using the convenient and structured sampling method. Finally, 413 duly completed questionnaires were returned and used in the analyses. Correlation analysis and regression analysis showed that strength of motivation in choosing entrepreneurship as a career option among the students is related with entrepreneurship intention. The entrepreneurial motivation factors affecting career intention to be an entrepreneur are made up of behavioral control, subjective norm, and attitude towards entrepreneurship. Subjective norm (tolerance for risk) and attitude (desirability) of self-employment are significantly related to both student immediate and future intentions to be an entrepreneur. However, behavioral control entrepreneurial motivation is found to be significantly related to student immediate career intention but not significantly related to student future entrepreneurship career intention. Creating of opportunity for practice of key entrepreneurial behaviors is seen as crucial in cultivating entrepreneurial behaviors. Theory of Planned Behavior Model can be used as a tool to identify would be entrepreneur and target them for entrepreneurship career development. This study argued and supported the call that those youths who are really serious to start and own a business as would be entrepreneurs can be identified and targeted to develop through entrepreneurship interventions initiative

Packaging designs and recurring purchase intention of baby milk powder

Packaging retains the freshness and quality of food product. The visual and verbal characteristics of the package designs communicate the products message, nutritional facts, allergy warnings and other related information that convey the manufacturers commitment of products that are appealing to their consumers to positively influence purchase decisions. Previous studies found that the relationship between the characteristics of baby milk powder packaging with consumers purchasing intention is inconsistent and it needs further study. This study was thus conducted to investigate the relationship between the characteristics of visual and verbal packaging of infant milk powder with buyers or parents recurring purchase intention. The respondents are the buyers or parents who went to a hypermarket located in Batu Pahat town, Malaysia to buy baby milk powder for their baby aged between 0-6 years of age. Quantitative methodology using survey questionnaire has been used to collect the data through convenient purposive sampling. A total of 217 set of data collected were analyzed by regression analysis. It was found that the visual and verbal packaging characteristics are positively related with buyer recurring purchase intention of baby milk powder for their baby. It explains as much as 23.2% at p <0.001 in affecting buyer recurring purchase intention. Manufacturers should focus on the characteristics of the packaging both visually and verbally to attract their customers who buy baby milk powde

Factors influencing behavioral intention to use m-learning and the mediation role of user satisfaction

The rapid development of mobile technologies has resulted in a phenomenal growth in the number of youth using the mobile devices for their learning in Malaysia. An understanding on the influence of mobile technologies and its intention to use for learning are crucial. However, there is still a lacking of attention being given by researchers related to this area. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the factors influencing intention to use m-learning among students at Malaysian technical universities. The research model has been adopted by combining two related theoretical models, the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), and the IS success model. A total of 400 sets of data were collected from four Malaysia technical universities using purposeful structured random sampling and self-administrated survey questionnaire. The SPSS AMOS software has been used to test the model of its goodness of fit and the relationships between the variables. The results revealed that the performance expectancy, perceived playfulness, and self-management of learning have a positive significant influence to predict behavioral intention to use m-learning, while social influence and effort expectancy show a negative impact on the behavioral intention. The performance expectancy, self-management of learning and effort expectancy are positively significantly related to user satisfaction while the social influence, and perceived playfulness are negatively significantly related to user satisfaction. It was also found that user satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between performance expectancy and behavioral intention to use m-learning, and the relationship between factors influencing learning and behavioral intention to use m-learning. However, user satisfaction fully mediates the relationship between effort expectancy and behavioral intention to use m-learning

Understanding the Motivation that Shapes Entrepreneurship Career Intention

Entrepreneurship intention for graduate students like many other job and work career options depends on other considerations. Individuals who pursue their intentions are most likely to implement their intention. Interest in entrepreneurship as career appears to be growing. Reviews show the need in investigating the determinants of entrepreneurship as a career intention of students and it has remains the focus of most of the recent studies. This is due to the facts that entrepreneurs are creating jobs and driving economic development of a nation. In this study, the Theory of Planned Behaviour is applied to investigate students’ entrepreneurial motivation and entrepreneurship intention. A total of 413 sets of completed questionnaire collected using the structured sampling methodology from the various faculties, races and student seniority at a University located in Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia were used in the analyses. The factors of entrepreneurial motivation affecting career entrepreneurship intention were found to be behavioural control, subjective norm, and attitude towards entrepreneurship. Behavioural control is found to be at a very good level while subjective norm and attitude towards entrepreneurship are both at a good level. Multiple regression analyses indicated that subjective norm and attitude of self-employment are both significantly related to student immediate and future entrepreneurship intentions. The behavioural control entrepreneurial motivation indicated significant relationship with student immediate career intention. However it was found that it is not related to entrepreneurship career intention. This study implies that young aspirant entrepreneur can be identified and targeted for development via the Planned Behaviour model for entrepreneurial interventions initiatives

Development of a conceptual integrated influential factors (IIF) model of internal stakeholder for construction projects successful completion in Yemen

Accomplishing construction projects within the time specified is seldom the case in Yemen. The funds allocated for the projects are usually not properly utilized. Many large construction projects in Yemen are either delayed, suspended or abandoned. Nonetheless, little exertion has been made to normalize the phenomenon. The objective of this paper is to develop an integrated influential factors (IIF) model for internal stakeholders to management construction projects successfully to completion in Yemen. The causes that affect the successful completion of project have been gathered and identified from the previous research works via literature. This model is expected to aid the successful completion of construction project in Yemen